Laundry machine



G. H. REAMA LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed May 12, 1935 May 5, 1936.

2 Sheets-Sheet l I IN l'vm

{'l/II/ll l/ll/Il/{l/l/l/l V INVENTOR ATTORNEYS w rg r 15! Emma May 5, 1936. G. H. REAMA LAUNDRY MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 12, 1955 I INVENTOR 6mg? fit 5mm? ATTORNEY-5 Patented May 1936 UNITED STATES LAUNDRY MACHINE George H. Reama, New Haven, Conn, assigns.

by mesne assignments,

to Winchester Repea ing Arms Company, New Haven, Conn., a cor poration. of Marlyand Application May 12, 1933, Serial No. 670,700

2 Claims. ((31. 6815) This invention relates in general to laundry machines, and more particularly to a washing ma-. chine of the centrifugal drying type.

This invention is more particularly concerned with certain improvements over the washing machine disclosed in copending application Serial No. 318,177 filed November 9, 1928 in the name of George W. Dunham, now Patent No. 1,914,363. The washing machine as disclosed in the prior application, comprises generally an outer container or tank supported upon a suitable base. Projecting upwardly from the bottom of the tank is a hollow pedestal upon which is mounted the hub of a laundry receptacle. Enclosed within the hollow pedestal is a pair of concentric shafts. One of said shafts has imparted thereto, by means of driving devices, an oscillatory motion for washing, and the other shaft has imparted there- 'to a continuous rotary motion for centrifugal drying of the clothes. The driving devices are I suitably located below the tank and are supported on a suitable base. A clutchingmechanismisprovided at the top of the hub forselectively con meeting the receptacle to the shafts.

This invention is more particularly concerned with an improved clutch mechanism for selectively connecting the receptacle to the drive shafts.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved clutching device, which is made of few parts, which is simple in operation and strong and durable in construction.

Another object of this invention is to provide a clutching device with special wear-resisting parts.

Other objects of this invention become apparcut as the disclosure proceeds.

Although the novel features which are believed to be charactertistic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, the mode of its operation and the manner of its organization may be better understood by referring to the following description taken. in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in whichv Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the machine, certain parts being shown in cross section to more clearly illustrate the construction;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross sectional view through the receptacle and receptacle hub, this view being taken on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is alvertical cross sectional view through the clutch mechanism operatively connected in washing position;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view through the clutch mechanism operatively connected in drying position;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross sectional view of the clutch mechanism taken on line 55 of v Fig. 6 is another horizontal cross sectional view through the clutch mechanism taken online 66 of Fig. 3;

Fig. '7 is a vertical cross sectional view of the clutch mechanism showing particularly the hub of the receptacle provided with wear resisting splines;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal cross sectional view through the hub taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a vertical cross sectional view through the upper portion of the hub and the receptacle, the hub being shown provided with a modified form of wear resisting splines; and

Fig. 10 is a horizontal cross sectional view through the hub taken on line Ill-l0 of Fig. 9.

In the following description and in the claims, parts will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, a practical commercial embodiment of the invention is shown, but as such is illustrated primarily for purposes of disclosure, it will be understood that the structure may be modified in various respects without departure from the broad spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined and claimed. 5

Referring to the drawings, the laundry machine comprises, in general, a container or tank l provided with a removable covert fitted on the top of the tank. The tank is supported by a base ring 2 having suitable vibration-absorbing feet 3, which may be made of rubber or other giveable material. Operating mechanism comprising a drive motor 5 and gear box 6 are provided, which are suspended from the top wall of base ring 2. This top wall reinforces the bottom wall of tank I.

An opening is provided in the center of the tank bottom to which a fitting II is secured. An upstanding hollow pedestal 20, securedto the fitting ll, extends upwardly into the tank. Disposed within the hollow pedestal 20 is a pair of concentric shafts comprising a solid shaft 22 within the hollow shaft 2!. Shafts 2| and 22 are driven by the gearing in the box 6. The tubular shaft 2i has imparted thereto an o'scillatory rotary motion for washing the clothes, and the solid shaft 22 has imparted thereto a continuous rotary motion for centrifugally drying the clothes after'washing.

Journalled on the hollow pedestal 20 is a clothes receptacle having paddles or blades 8 therein for aiding in agitating the laundry and having a bottom wall 9 provided with perforations I 09. The side wall 'I of the receptacle is formed from a single band of sheet material punctured by many openings I2 through which the washing water can freely pass. A guard ring I3 may be provided around the top of the side wall I oi the receptacle. The guard ring I3, the side wall 'I and the perforated bottom wall 9 of the receptacle may be connected together in any of the well known ways, such as shown in Fig. 1. It will be understood that the details of construction of the gearing in the box, the mounting of the motor, and the stabilizing support for the tank will not further be described since they have been disclosed at length in prior patents and copending applications filed in my name or in the name of George W. Dunham.

' The upper end of thepedestal 20 is provided with a bearing sleeve 23 for the upper end of the tubular shaft 2|. A bearing sleeve 24, shown more particularly in Fig. 3, provided on the inside of the tubular shaft 2|, is provided for the upper end of the solid shaft 22.

Near the lower end of the pedestal 20, and on the outside thereof, there is provided a bearing sleeve 25 which closely fits the bearing sleeve 25 cast on the inside face of the hub III. The upper end of the pedestal 20 is provided with a conical shaped head I24.- The head I24 assists in positioning the receptacle on the pedestal when the receptacle is replaced after removal for cleaning or otherpurposes. v'Ihe head I24, however, is sufficiently spaced from the hub of the receptacle so as not to frictionally contact the same.

A clutch construction is provided to selectively connect the receptacle to the drive shafts 2| and 22. The upper end of the tubular drive shaft 2| is provided with a series of splines I25, shown more particularly in Fig. 4. A horizontally extending groove is provided in the splines I25, in which a locking ring I26 is sprung. The upper end of the solid shaft 22 is provided with a sleeve 21 suitably secured thereto, such as by a driven fit. The sleeve 21 is also provided with splines 28 of the same circular dimensions as the splines I25.

At the upper end of the hollow huh I 0, the

wall is enlarged on the interior toward the concentric shafts forming a collar shaped portion 29 having splines 30 and integral with said hub for purposes of directly selectively contacting the splined portions 28 or I25 on the concentric shafts respectively, as shown clearly in Figs. 1, 3 and 4.

A cover member 40, provided with a recess to accommodate the spline sleeve 21, closes the open top of the hub III. The cover member 40 is provided with a. side wall or flange portion 4 I, which provides a housing for a locking ring 33. The cover member 40 may be secured to the hub II) by means of a screw 42 or other means.

The locking ring 33 seats on top of the collar portion 29 and is operative to selectively lock the hub I 0 of the receptacle into operative engagemerit either with the rotary drive shaft 22 or the oscillatory rotary drive shaft 2|. A push button 34 is secured to the locking ring 33 and projects outwardly through an opening the flange 4| of the cover member and an'opening 35 in the hub III.

A coil spring 31 positioned between the ring 33 and-the hub I0 operates to force the locking ring to one side of the housing provided in the cover member 40. If the receptacle is raised from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4 so that the spline sleeve 21 on the rotatable shaft 22 is removed from the ring 33, the ring will be free to move over to one side of its housing so that the edge of the ring will seat over the top of the sleeve 21, and prevent return of the sleeve into the ring. When the push button 34 is pressed inwardly, the spring 31 is depressed and the locking ring 33 is moved centrally of its housing within the cover member 40, so as to permit the splines I25 provided on the shaft 2| to again project into the looking ring 33, In this position of the clutch, the machine is in washing position. A pair of guide walls 36 are cast integrally on the inside of the cover 49 to guide the locking ring 33 in a direction parallel to the direction of the push button and spring, as shown in Fig. 5.

It will be seen that, in theposition shown in Fig.- 3, the hub I9 and the receptacle thereto attached is connected to the tubular shaft 2| by reason of the engagement between the splines I25 and the splines 30 provided on the collar portion 29 of the hub III. In the position shown in Fig. 4, the hub I0 and the receptacle are com nected to the solid shaft 22 by reason of the engagement between the splines 28 and splines 39 provided on the collar portion 29 of the hub III. Engagement and disengagement is eifected by manipulating the ring 33 by pressing the button 34 and lifting or lowering the hub I0 to effect the desired engagement 'as the case may be. The ring I26 surrounding the tubular shaft 2| limits the downward telescoping position of the huh I!) over the shaft. The lowest te1escop ing position of the hub occurs when the machine is connected for washing purposes, the collar portion 29 then resting upon the ring member I26, as shown in Fig. 3. To shift the machine from washing to drying position, or vice versa, it is only necessary to shift the receptacle and the hub I0 thereon aerially with respect to the drive shafts 2| and 22.

The splines I25 on the tubular drive shaft 2|, the splines 28 on the solid drive shaft 22, and the splines 30 carried by the collar portion 29 of the hub III are subject to wear due to operation of the clutch in shifting back and forth between washing and drying positions. These splines are also subject to wear while actually in either washing or drying position due to the slight play necessary for ease in shifting the clutch elements. The drive shaft 2| and collar 21 are preferably made of steel, and since the splines I25 and 28 are formed integrally therewith, these splines are strongly resistant to wear.

It is preferable that the hub I0 and the rest of the basket be made of some light metallic material, such as aluminum. If desired, to further strengthen or reinforce the splines 30, buttons or plugs 3| may be secured or suitably cast in the collar portion 29 of the hub I 0, as shown in Figs. 'land 8. The plugs 3| are provided with exposed splines 32 which are in line with the main splines 30. If desired. only some of the splines 30 may be reinforced with the plugs II, as shown. 0r, all oi the splines 30 may be reinlforced. The insert plugs 3| are preferably Iii) made of stainless steel or other wear-resisting material.

As a further possible modification, the wear resisting splines set in the collar portion 28 may comprise key-shaped members 58, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, in preference to theplug type splines 3i shown in Figs. '7 and 8. These members 50 may be made of stainless steel and may be cast into the collar portion 28 with parts 5! projecting to form the splines proper.

The hub i0, bottom of the receptacle 8, and

I the blades 8 may be cast in one piece as an aluminum casting. A strong construction is thus effected at low cost. The side wall I of the receptacle may be provided with spaced ridges i5 providing indentations i5 therebetwen into which the ends of the blades 8 seat. The ridges l6 and indentations I5 are stamped out from the side wall I when in sheet form, and then the side wall iswrapped around the perforated bottom wall 9 and the ends of the side wall ii are secured together as by lap joint M or other means. An economical, strong and durable receptacle construction is thus provided at low cost.

In the design of the washing action, including blades 8, recognition is made of the patents to Crawford Nos. 234,393 and 235,073, and particularly patent to Crawford No. 266,975. Applicants blades or agitators 8, arranged circumferentially around the hub l0 and surrounded by a perforated wall I, are similar in operation to those shown in the Crawford patents above referred to, and perform the same function and effect the same movement of the washing water. No claim is therefore made to the washing principle of my machine.

When the machine is used for washing, the tank I is filled with water and the laundry positioned within the receptaclewall I and on the blades or agitators 8. The clutch is set so as to connect the tubular shaft 2| to the hub III of the receptacle. The oscillatory rotary motion of the tubular shaft 2| is'imparted to the receptacle and the clothes are washed. When the clothes are to be dried the water is drained out of the tank I and the'receptacle and associated hub is raised and connected to the inner shaft 22. The continuous rotary motion of the shaft 22 imparts a similar motion to the receptacle. By means of this action the water is centrlfugally thrown from the clothes and the clothes are thus dried.

While certain novel features have been shown and described and have been pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

, splines thereof.

What is claimed is:

i. In an apparatus of the class described. concentricinner and outer shafts, the adjacent ends of said shafts having non-circular portions of substantially the same transverse dimension but spaced axially from each other, a sleeve member for selective engagement with said shafts, said sleeve member having an integral collar portion having acomplementary non-circular portion for selective engagement with said first non-circular portions, said sleeve member having a recess above said collar portion, a cap member having an integral depending sleeve fitting in said recess, said cap sleeve having a transverse guidewaywith straight side walls and curved walls, said end walls having diametrically opposed openings therein, a lock ring within said guideway and surrounding said concentric shafts, a push button secured to said lock ring and projectingout through one of said cap sleeve openings and a registering opening in said first sleeve member, a

spring between said lock ring and sleeve member.

and seated in the other of said cap sleeve openings, said straight side walls engagi the sides of said ring to permit straight transverse movetive engagement with said shafts, said hub member having an integral collar portion having a complementary splined portion for selective engagement with said first splined portions, said hub member having a recessabove said collar portion, a cap member having an integral depending sleeve fitting in said recess, said cap sleeve having a transverse guideway with straight side walls and curved end walls, said end walls having diametrically opposed openings therein, a lock ring within said guideway and surrounding said concentric shafts, a push button secured to said lock ring and projecting out through one of said cap sleeve openings and a registering opening in said hub member, a spring between said lock ring and hub wall and seated in the other of said cap sleeve openings, said straight side walls enga in the sides of said ring to permit straight transverse.

movement of said ring when said push button is pressed, said hub member and integral collar portion being made of comparatively soft material and having wear-resistingelements set in the GEORGE H. REAHA. 

